Exploring Implementation Barriers of Elite Parasport Programs in National Parasport Organizations

Abstract

Policy implementation has received attention from the literature. However, there has been a lack of research on the implementation barriers affecting elite parasport policies. In response to this literature gap, this research explored the perceptions of managers regarding aspects making the policy implementation processes more challenging in Brazilian parasport organizations. Focusing on elite programs, twenty-six managers of five national parasport organizations were interviewed. A qualitative research design accommodating exploratory objectives was adopted, and the obtained data were analyzed by thematic analysis. Only perceptions of barriers regarding the programs implemented for the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games cycle were considered. Parasport managers perceived that issues of funding, bureaucracy, specialized knowledge, accessibility, policies, culture, and influences from international parasport organizations were the major barriers affecting the effectiveness of their elite parasport programs. These results contributed to the sport literature with new information on aspects impacting the implementation of national elite parasport policies from a managerial perspective.